Well device



Dec 28, l954 s. J. E. MARSHALL ET AL 2,698,056

WELL DEVICE Filed March 24, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l 25 ff if 5i] 5% I 22 25 475 a 5 53 r ze W 32 29 i C' i @xm f2 fifi 2 59 7 if i? d 57 /Tu 5 /F'o 4 o di J p 59 F Zo 5 CQ C7@ Y a 5] JNVENTOR. g A SANZ/.5L JIL/ MARSHALL i if 47 BY oH/v @50p f I 23 i ff f Fig, 6 j @M A TTORNI'IY S. J. E. MARSHALL ET AL WELL DEVICE Dec. 28, 1954 Filed MaIGh 24, 1952 lIIlllllliitllflllllllllflllllnl.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /fa @f2 l N V EN TORS SAMUEL J. E. MARSHALL www@ A TTRNE Y United States Patent Office 2,698,056 Patented Dec. 28, 1954 WELL DEVICE Samuel J. E. Marshall and John V. Fredd, Dallas, Tex., assignors to Otis Engineering Corporation, DallasTex., a corporation of Texas Application March 24, 1952, Serial No. 278,184

22 Claims. (Cl. 166-123) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in well devices and more particularly to locking devices' in oil and gas wells.

Locking devices for positioning and supporting re"- movable subsurface well devices, such as flow control andl safety devices, should preferably be capable of being lowered, positioned, locked and unlocked by running and pulling tools which can be lowered and raised by a llexible line or wire. Such locking devices should be of simple construction to preclude failures to lock and unlock such occur in complicated devices due to freezing or jamming by corrosion or extraneous matter. They should be easily positionable in predetermined locations in a well and should be capable of being easilyand positively locked in place at the predetermined locations. More` over, it is desirable that such locking devices should be capable of being unlocked by a simple upward force exerted on a suitable locking element of the locking device by a conventional pulling tool.

It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide a new and improved locking deviceV for positioning and supporting removable subsurface well devices in oil and' gas wells.

it is another object of the invention to provlde anew and improved removable carrier and. locking device' arranged to be lowered into a well flow conductor and locked in place therein for supporting a well ow control or safety device. A l

It is still another object of this invention to prov1de a new and improved mechanism for locking and unlockingthe carrier, whereby positioning and releasingaction is assured.

A further object. of the invention is to provide' a new and improved mechanism forlocking and unlocking the carrier which is operable by a simple upward pull to unlock the carrier.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described wherein the operation of freeing the locking elements may be performed by means of a flexible line mechanism' operableifrom the earths surface.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will readily be apparent from the reading of the following description of devices constructedin accordance with the invention, and reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

Figure l is a view, partly in elevation and'v partly in section, of a carrier and locking mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention, showing thesame suspended in a well flow conductor by a line-supported running tool assembly, Y

Figure 2 isV an enlarged View of the upper end of the carrier and locking mechanism as it appears' whensup ported in running position by the running to'ol prior to the locking of the carrier in the well How conductor,

Figure 3 is a view of the carrier and locking' mechanism showing the locking elements set in locked position,

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure`3 showing a pulling tool'in position to exert an upward pull tojunlock the locking elements', n

Figure 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional` view taken-on the line 5 5 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a perspectiveview of a locking dog uscd'as a component of the device'shown in FiguresZ" to 5, y

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional View of'a modified form ofthe carrier and locking mechanism showing the'lo'cking mechanism in locking position,

Figure 8 isa horizontal cross-sectional view' talt'en on line 8-8 of Figure 7, l Y

Figure 9 is a perspective view of one of the lockingdogs used in the modified form of the device shown in Figure 7,

Figure l0 is a perspective view of the locking expander element used in the modified form of the device shown in Figure 7, l

Figure ll is a vertical sectional view `of still another form of the carrier and locking mechanism showing the same in locking position, and v Figure l2' is a perspective View of one of the locking dogs used' in the device shown in Figure ll. Y

In the drawings, the numeral 20 designates an elongate cylindrical housing, which may take the form of an elongated nipple having threads 21 at each end'. This nipple may be connected between and to adjacent sections 22 and 23 of a well flow conductor. It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to use in a well flow conductor, such as well tubing, but may be used in drill pipe or drill stems, or in casing or the like, as well.

The carrier C includes a locking mandrel 24 having a central axial bore 25 which has an enlarged portion 26 adjacent the upper end which forms a downwardly facing annular shoulder 27. Below the enlarged portion 26, the axial bore is reduced to form an upwardly facing annular shoulder or seat 28 whose inner annular edge is of smaller diameter than the inner annular edge' of the downwardly facing shoulder. Internal screw threads 29 are formed in the reduced portion of the axial bore below the upwardly facing shoulder to engage the threaded lower end of an elongate cylindrical carrying sleeve 30 whose upper end is enlarged to provide a beveled shoulder 31 and a collar 31a. v

A locking' expander sleeve 32 has a sliding t on the carrying sleeve and is provided with a collar 33at its upper end. The collar 33 provides inner and outer beveled shoulders` 34 and 35, respectively, at its upper end. ln its initial position prior to moving to the lockcarrying sleeve. ln this initial position, the inner beveled shoulder 34 of the locking sleeve abuts the beveled shoulder 31 of the carrying sleeve. The carrying sleeve turn is initially secured to a running tool 39 by shear pinsA 40 which extend through apertures 41 in the'skirt 420i;` the running tool and engage in the grooves 43 provided in the collar 30 of the carrying sleeve which is telescoped into said skirt'.

The lower end ofthe locking expander sleeve is beveled to form' a camming surface 44 which is adapted to contact beveled surfaces 45 provided on the inner kupper Iends of dogs 46 disposed in the enlarged portion 26 of the axial bore' of the mandrel 24. Each of the dogs has a lateral projection or boss 47 which is adapted to project through radially spaced apertures 48 in the mandrelwhen the locking expander sleeve is moved downwardly' on the' carrying sleeve and spreads the dogs outwardly. Downward movement of the locking expander sleeve on ythe carrying sleeve is limited by the upwardly facing shoulder' 28 of the mandrel, while its upward movement is limited by the beveled shoulder 31 of the carrying sleeve.

When the locking expander sleeve is in the locking position shown in Figures 3 and 4, the bosses 47 of th'e dogs project outwardly into an inner annular grooveforr internal'locking recess 49 formed in' the nipple 20. The upper annular beveled shoulder 50 defining one end of the annular groove is adapted to Contact the upper beveledl annular' shoulder 55 formed on the` collar 33 ofV the expander sleeve, the locking dogs 46 are freed to move inwardly, since the lower end of the locking expander sleeve is moved from between the dogs to the position relative to said dogs shown in Figure 2. Further upward movement of the locking expander sleeve by the pulling tool will cause the inner beveled shoulder 34 of the expander sleeve to contact the beveled shoulder 31 of the collar 31a of the carrying sleeve so that the carrying sleeve will also be moved upward. During this upward movement of the carrying sleeve, the annular beveled lock shoulder 50 of the nipple contacts the beveled surfaces 51 of the dogs and cams the dogs inwardly so that the mandrel 24 is freed for upward movement and removal from the well.

The axial bore of the locking mandrel is enlarged below the reduced portion 56 to form a beveled shoulder 57, and internal screw threads are formed in lower end of the locking member in the enlarged portion of the bore below said shoulder. An elongate tubular packing mandrel 58 has screw threads on its upper end to engage the internal screw threads in the lower end of the locking mandrel. rlhe extreme upper end of the packing mandrel is beveled to engage the shoulder 57 to provide a seal between the locking mandrel and the packing mandrel. The packing mandrel is formed with an external annular flange 59 and a plurality of rings of V-type, or Chevron type, packing 60 are mounted on the packing mandrel between the flange 59 and the lower end of the locking mandrel. A follower or back-up ring 61 engages the lower end of the locking mandrel to provide a support for the packing while a spacer ring 62 having an upstanding cylindrical ange thereon is supported on the flange 59 and engages the underside of the lowermost packing ring to support the same for sealing between the packing mandrel and the bore of the housing nipple. A positioning split ring 63, disposed in a circular groove in the packing mandrel, and a pair of spacer rings 64 and 65 separate the packing rings into upper and lower sets and maintain the two sets in proper relation on the packing mandrel. The positioning ring 63 may be eliminated, if desired.

The packing rings may be made of fabric impregnated with rubber, asbestos with a plastic binder, or other suitable compositions, and are preferably of a diameter substantially equal to or slightly less than the bore of the nipple, whereby they may readily enter the same. Well fluid pressure entering the bore of the nipple is packed off by the sealing engagement of the packing rings with the wall of the bore of the nipple. While the sealing rings are illustrated in position to seal off pressures from below the carrier, it is obvious that they may be mounted so as to seal olf pressures from above or from both above and below the carrier, if desired.

Various conventional types of well fluid control or safety devices A may be attached to the lower end of the packing mandrel by means of the internal screw threads 66 and the external screw threads 67 provided on the lower end of the packing mandrel.

In use, the carrier is lowered into the well flow conductor by means of a flexible line 68 which supports a conventional jarring mechanism 69 having an upper section 70 provided with a transverse end 71 which extends through an elongate vertical slot 72 provided in the lower section 73 of the jarring mechanism. The lower section of the jarring section supports the running tool 39 whose upper reduced threaded end 74 is secured to the lower section either directly or through a conventional hinge or knuckle joint connection 75, which permits the tools to pass through crooked pipe more easily. The running tool is provided with a plurality of apertures 76 which communicate with the interior of the skirt 42 to facilitate passage of well fluid past the running tool as it is lowered into the well.

The upper end of the carrying sleeve is secured to the skirt of the running tool by the shear pins 40, as illustrated in Figure 2 and as previously described. The running tool and carrier C are then lowered in the well conductor until the flange 52 of the locking mandrel comes to rest on the upper end of the housing nipple 20. The seating of the ange on the upper end of the nipple is easily detected at the well surface by the slackening of tension of the exible line. The jarring mechanism is then employed to impose a sharp sudden downward force on the running tool which shears the shear pins 40 and 36 substantially simultaneously and drives the locking sleeve slots 93 between each pair of adjacent legs.

downwardly to force the bosses 47 of the dogs 46 outwardly through the apertures 48 in the mandrel. The various elements of the device are then in the positions illustrated in Figure 3. The running tool can then be lifted and removed from the well conductor since it is now detached from the carrying sleeve.

The bosses of the dogs will engage the annular downwardly facing beveled shoulder of the nipple to retain the locking mandrel in position, if an upward force is exerted on the locking mandrel, since the lower end of the locking expander sleeve will positively prevent inward movement of the dogs. The engagement of the dogs with the mandrel at the lower ends of the apertures 48 limits upward movement of the mandrel with respect to the dogs. The carrier and the well fluid flow control or safety device attached to the lower end of the packing mandrel are thus locked in a predetermined position in the well flow conductor.

When it is desired to remove the carrier and the well uid ow control or safety device, a suitable pulling tool 53 of the type disclosed in the patent, No. 1,898,261, granted to H. C. Otis, is lowered on a flexible line into the well ow conductor and its hooks 54 engaged beneath the annular shoulder below the collar 33 on the upper end of the locking sleeve, as can be seen in Figure 4. The pulling tool is then pulled up, sliding the locking expander sleeve upwardly on the carrying sleeve until the inner beveled shoulder 34 of the collar 33 engages the beveled shoulder 31 of the collar 31a of the carrying sleeve. The lower end of the locking expander sleeve is then raised to a position with respect to the dogs which allows the dogs to move inwardly. Further upward movement of the pulling tool will pull the locking mandrel 24 upwardly and the bosses of the dogs engage the annular beveled shoulder 50 of the nipple which cams the dogs inwardly allowing the carrier to be lifted out of the nipple.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a new and improved releasable carrier and locking device has been provided which is arranged to be lowered into a well ow conductor and locked in place therein for supporting a well flow control or safety device. The carrier and locking mechanism is also so arranged that the locking dogs are moved positively outwardly by a locking expander sleeve mounted for limited longitudinal movement on a carrying sleeve. It will be further seen that the carrier and locking mechanism may be readily operated by an upward pull on a flexible line mechanism from the well surface to free or unlock the locking mechanism by raising the locking expander sleeve on the carrying sleeve.

A modified form of the invention is illustrated in Figures 7 through l0. In this form the carrier C includes a locking mandrel having an internal annular ange 81 extending into the axial bore 82 thereof and a plurality of radially spaced lateral apertures 83 located below the annular flange. A plurality of locking dogs 84 having outwardly projecting heads 85 at their upper ends are suspended from the annular flange by the engagement of their heads with the upper surface of the annular flange 81. The dogs have Shanks 86 which extend downwardly below the annular flange, and bosses 87 are formed on the extreme lower ends of the dogs. The bosses project outwardly into the apertures 83 in the locking mandrel and have lateral extensions 88 on opposite sides of the shanks 86. The upper ends of the lateral extensions are formed to provide inner beveled surfaces 89 and outer beveled surfaces 90.

A locking expander sleeve 91 has a skirt which is split to form a plurality of legs 92 and downwardly opening The extreme lower ends of the legs are enlarged to provide expander sections 94 having at their upper ends beveled shoulders 94a which engage the lower beveled shoulder 9S of the flange 81 to limit the upward movement of the locking expander sleeve in the bore of the locking mandrel and lower beveled shoulders 96 which are adapted to engage the inner beveled surfaces 89 of the dogs to cam or expand the dogs outwardly as the locking expander sleeve is moved downwardly on a carrying sleeve 97 which extends downwardly below the locking mandrel.

The locking mandrel is provided at its lower end with internal screw threads which engage the reduced externally threaded end 98 of a connector 99 having an axial bore 100 which is enlarged below the reduced end to form the annular stop shoulder 101. The lower end of the connector is provided with internal screw threads which engage the upper rednoed threaded end-10.2. of a eoupling 193.- ,A lower v.Seetion 104 of the eur-ying sleeve has upper enlarged end 1 .05 which .is threaded on the lower end of the upper section 497. A set screw T-is employed to leek .the two seetions eeenreiv rosetlrer- The upper surieee .10.3 of the eonplins engages the .Shoulder `10.9 of the enlareed.endy 10.510 limit the downward movement of the ,carrying sleeve with respect to the locking mandrel.

A retaining ring 110 is threaded on the reduced lower end 111 ,of 'the coupling 103 and secures the upper end of a packer sleeve 112 yto the lower en d of said coupling. The packer sleeve is formed with an internal downwardly extending sealing llip 112e .near its opper end which engages the' exterior of `the lower sectionl 104 of the .carrying sleeve for sealing thereagainst in the usual manner. If'siesired, an O-rinsll mov be interposed between the Carrying Sleeve and the upper inner well of the packer sleeve below the lip to provide an additional sealing means between the packer sleeve and carrying sleeve. The inner surface lof the packer sleeve near Iits lower end is flared dowwardly and outwardly to an internal annular shoulder 114 and is adapted to be expanded by the tapered head 115 of an expander 116 threaded on the lower end of the carrying sleeve. An annular downwardly facing shoulder 117 at the lower end of the tapered head is adapted to lock over the shoulder 114 of the packer sleeye'to maintain the lower portion of the packer sleeve in expanded position. The lower end 118 of the expander is threaded to engage and support any desired we ll iiow control or safety device.

In use, the carrier C' is employed with the housing nipple shown in Figures 2 to 4, and is lowered into the. well flow conductor in the same manner as the carrier C shown in Figures l to 4. The upper collar 1 19 of the looking expander sleeve is securedto the carrying sleeve with shear pins (not shown), the upper end of vthe collar 119 abutting the lower shoulder 120 of the upper collar 121 of the carrying sleeve, While in this position, the Upper Shoulders 94a of the less of the looking expander sleeve abut the beveled shoulder 95 of the flange 81 of the locking mandrel 80, and thus support the carrier and` packing sleeve, the expander sections being moved above the bosses o f the locking dogs so that the bosses 87 of the dogs are then in their retracted positions. When the aiige 1220i the locking mandrel engages and rests on the -v'upper end of the housing nipple, the pins securing the locking expander sleeve to the Carrying sleeve and the carrying sleeve to the running tool, not shown but of the same type as the running tool illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, are sheared by jarring. The locking expander is then moved downwardly within the mandrel, forcing the dogs 84 outwardly to project the bosses 87- outwardly through the apertures S3 of the locking mandrel.

The carrying sleeve is then moved upwardly, either by the upward'pressure of the well iuid or by ay pulling tool, and the expander head 115 telescopes into` the lower end of the packer sleeve to expand the packer sleeve and seal between the carrying sleeve and the inner wall of the housing or the well ow conductor,

This'moditied form of the carrier and locking device may be removed, in substantially the s amemanner as the device illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, by means of a pulling tool engaging the collar 119 of the locking expander sleeve 91. The pulling tool is first operated to force the carrying sleeve 97 and the expander 116 at its lower end downwardly to disengage the expander from the packer sleeve 112V and release the sealing engagement of the packer sleeve with the housing wall. The pulling tool may then be lifted to lift the locking eXparlder sleeve from dog expanding position. When the expander sleeve is lifted, further upward movement of the carrier C permits the outer beveled surfaces 90 of the bosses 8,7 to contact the annular shoulder 5() of the housing nipple and be moved inwardly thereby. The shoulders 94a on the lower ends of the legsthen engage the annular beveled shoulder 95 of the locking mandrel and the looking mandrel is moved upwardly relative to the carrying sleeve 97. until the upper end of the locking expander sleeve contacts the shoulder 120 of the collar 121 onthe upper end of. the carrying sleeve, after which both the carrying sleeve and the locking mandrel are moved upwardly toget her to the well surface.

Another modified form of the invention, similar to that of Figure 7, is illustrated in Figure l1. andhas a verrier The carrier ineludes a looking mandrel .6 1 25 which has an axial bore 126 provided with .an inten nal annular dog supporting ange 127 and with a yplurality of radially spaced lateral apertures 128 located` above the dog supporting danger. A plurality of dogs 129 are supported and held in position by the dog supporting ange, each of the dogs having a hooked lower end 1.3i) which engages above and below the dog supporting flange. The upper ends .of the dogs are provided with bosses 131 which extend into the apertures 12.8 and are adapted to be moved outwardly to project beyond the outer surface of the locking mandrel. Each boss has a beveled surface 132 at its upper end which functions, in the same manner as the beveled surface of the dogs illustrated in Figure 7 lto contact a beveled shoulder in.

a housing nipple, such as the nipple 20 of Figures l to 5, to loci; the carrier in said housing, The beveled `surface also permits the dog to be cammed to inward position when the locking mandrel is being released and the carrier moved upwardly out of the nipple.

A second internal annular flange 133 located in the axial bore of the locking mandrel below the dog supporting flange provides an upwardly facing annular shoulder 134 on which the lower ends of the dogs may rest and a downwardly facing stop shoulder 135 which serves to limit the upward movement of a carrying sleeve 136, similar to the sleeve 97 of Figure 7, which is sldably mounted in the axial bore of the locking mandrel, The carrying sleeve has an upper section 137, a lower section 13S, and a collar 139 which provides a stop shoulder 140. The stop shoulder engages the upper end of a coupling 141, similar to the coupling 103 of Figure 7, to limit the downward movement of the carrying sleeve. The coupling is threaded into the lower end of the locking mandrel and its lower end is provided with a retaining ring 142 which secures an expansible packer sleeve 144 to the carrier. The packer sleeve has an internal annular lip 144:1 and an auxiliary Sealing O-,ring 143 similar to the corresponding elements shown in Figure 7. The packer sleeve is expanded by an expander head 145 secured to the lower end of the carrying sleeve, in the same manner as the vform last described.

A locking expander sleeve 146 is slidable downwardly on the carrying sleeve and has an annular flange 147 on its lower end which is provided with a tapered or beveled surface 148 at its bottom. The beveled surface 148 cams the dogs 129 outwardly as the locking sleeve is moved downwardly within the locking mandrel. An annular external stop collar 149 threaded on the upper end of the locking mandrel has an annular iiange 150 extending inwardly toward the central sleeve to act as a stop means, by engaging the upper shoulder 151 of the locking expander sleeve flange 147, for limiting the upward movement of the expander sleeve in the locking mandrel. The locking expander sleeve and the carrying sleeve have collars 152 and 153, respectively, at their upper ends which serve the same functions as the collars 119 and 121 of the locking expander sleeve and carrying sleeve of the well device illustrated iu Figure 7.

The mode of operation of this form of the well device will be obvious, since it is substantially the same in structure as the device of Figure 7 andis operated in substantially the same manner as that well device, which manner of operation has already been described in detail.

it will now be apparent that the various forms of the well devices of the invention, described above and illustrated in the drawings, can be quickly and easily moved into desired position in a well by means of a running tool. suspended on a flexible line; that the well devices can be positively locked in place in the desired positiomthat the well devices can be easily removed by a pulling tool suspended on a flexible line; and, that the unlocking of` the devices can be achieved by a simple upward pull on the line on which the pulling tool is suspended. Moreover, it will be seen that the well devices ofthe invention are freely suspended in the well during lowering and raising operations, and have no parts which must drag on the walls of the well tubing or well casing duringsuch operations. Furthermore, it will be apparent that no springs are needed or employed, and that no spring action by some element or elements of the locking or positioning components of the device is needed to insure proper operation of the well devices. The structural and` functional forms and interrelationships of the various elementsl of thev well devices of the inventions which permit the achievement of the desired result without theY use of 7 springs or spring action enable the well devices to be simple in form, to be less susceptible to malfunction due to jamming or freezing of elements, to be easily operable, and to be removed by a simple upward pull.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, and changes in the details of the constructions illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

- What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A well device for use in an elongate tubular housing having an internal locking recess providing a downwardly facing beveled lock shoulder, said device including a locking mandrel having an axial bore and a plurality of radially spaced lateral apertures communicating with the axial bore; a plurality of dogs disposed in said locking mandrel and adapted to project through the lateral apertures to engage the lock shoulder to limit upward movement of said locking mandrel in said housing; a carrying sleeve extending slidably into said axial bore; a locking expander sleeve slidable on said carrying sleeve and having a lower end extending into the axial bore and adapted to slide downwardly relative to said mandrel to move said dogs outwardly through said lateral openings, said dogs having beveled surfaces adapted to contact said beveled lock shoulder when expanded whereby said dogs retain said locking mandrel in place in said housing; said locking sleeve being movable upwardly to an upper unlocking position to permit said beveled lock shoulder to cam said dogs inwardly in said apertures when said mandrel is moved upwardly relative to said housing; and stop means on said carrying sleeve for limiting the upward movement of said locking sleeve on said carrying sleeve.

2. A well device including: a locking mandrel having an axial bore and a plurality of radially spaced lateral apertures in said mandrel communicating with said axial bore; a plurality of dogs movably disposed in said locking mandrel and adapted to project outwardly of said locking mandrel through said lateral apertures; a carryingsleeve extending slidably downwardly into said axial bore; a locking expander sleeve slidable on said carrying sleeve and having a lower end extending into said axial bore and adapted to move downwardly relative to said mandrel to move said dogs outwardly through said lateral apertures; and stop means on said carrying sleeve engageable with stop means on said locking expander sleeve for limiting upwardly movement of the locking sleeve on the carrying sleeve.

.3. A well device of the character set forth in claim 2 and including: an expansible packer sleeve at the lower end of said locking mandrel; and an expander secured to the lower end of said carrying sleeve and movable upwardly therewith for engaging and expanding said packer sleeve when said carrying sleeve is moved upwardly relative to said locking mandrel.

4. A well device including: a carrier having a locking mandrel provided with an axial bore; an internal dog supporting flange on said mandrel extending into said bore; said mandrel having a plurality of radially spaced apertures adjacent the ilange; a plurality of dogs disposed in said axial bore and held by said ange; said dogs extending into said apertures and being adapted to be moved outwardly to project beyond the locking mandrel; a carrying sleeve extending through the axial bore slidably mounted in the carrier for limited axial movement therein; a locking expander sleeve slidable on the carrying sleeve and having means on its lower end for moving said dogs outwardly through the lateral apertures when the locking expander sleeve is moved downwardly on said carrying sleeve relative to said mandrel and adapted to abut the dog supporting flange to limit upward movement of the locking expander sleeve in the locking mandrel; and stop means on said carrying sleeve for limiting upward movement of the locking expander sleeve on said carrying sleeve.

5. A well device including: a carrier having a locking mandrel provided with an axial bore and an internal flange extending into said bore, said mandrel having a plurality ot' radially spaced apertures adjacent the flange; a plurality of dogs disposed in said axial bore and held by said ilange, said dogs extending into said apertures and being adapted to be moved outwardly to project beyond the locking mandrel; a carrying sleeve extending through the axial bore slidably mounted in the carrier for limited axial movement therein; a locking` expander sleeve slidable on the carrier sleeve and having means on its lower end for moving said dogs outwardly through the lateral apertures when the locking expander sleeve is moved downwardly on said carrying sleeve relative to said mandrel and adapted to abut the dog supporting flange to limit upward movement of the locking expander sleeve in the locking mandrel; stop means on the upper end of said carrying sleeve for limiting upward movement of the locking expander sleeve on said carrying sleeve; an expansible packer sleeve at the lower end of said carrier; and an expander secured to the lower end of said carrying sleeve for engaging and expanding said packer sleeve when said carrying sleeve is moved upwardly relative to said locking mandrel.

6. A well device including: a carrier having a locking mandrel provided with an axial bore; an internal dog supporting tlange extending into said bore, said mandrel having a plurality of radially spaced apertures disposed above said flange; a plurality of dogs disposed in said axial bore and held by said ange, said dogs extending into said apertures and being adapted to be moved outwardly to project beyond the locking mandrel; a carrying sleeve extending through the axial bore and slidably mounted in the carrier for limited axial movement therein; a locking expander sleeve slidable on the carrying sleeve and having means on its lower end for moving said dogs outwardly through the apertures when the locking expander sleeve is moved downwardly in the locking mandrel; stop means on the locking mandrel engageable with said locking expander sleeve for limiting upward movement of the locking expander sleeve in the mandrel; and stop means on said carrying sleeve for limiting upward movement of the locking expander sleeve on the carrying sleeve.

7. A well device including: a locking mandrel having an axial bore and a plurality of radially spaced lateral apertures communicating with the axial bore; a plurality of dogs disposed in said axial bore and adapted to project outwardly through said lateral apertures; a carrying sleeve having a lower end extending into the axial bore and rigidly secured to said locking mandrel; a locking expander sleeve slidable on said carrying sleeve and having a lower end extending into the axial bore of the locking mandrel and adapted to move downwardly therein on the carrying sleeve to contact and move said dogs outwardly through said lateral apertures; and stop means on said carrying sleeve engageable with said locking expander sleeve for limiting upward movement of the locking expander sleeve on the carrying sleeve.

8. A well device including: a locking mandrel having an axial bore and a plurality of radially spaced lateral apertures communicating with the axial bore; a plurality of dogs disposed in said axial bore and adapted to project outwardly through said lateral apertures; a carrying sleeve having a lower end extending into the axial bore and rigidly secured to said locking mandrel; a locking expander sleeve slidable on said carrying sleeve and having a lower end portion extending into the axial bore and adapted to move downwardly in said bore on the carrying sleeve to contact and move said dogs outwardly through said lateral apertures; and stop means on said carrying sleeve engageable with said locking expander sleeve for limiting upward movement of the locking expander sleeve on the carrying sleeve; and means on said locking mandrel engageable with said locking expander sleeve for limiting downward movement of said locking expander sleeve in said locking mandrel.

9. A well device including: a locking mandrel having an axial bore and a lateral aperture communicating with said bore; a locking member disposed in said bore and adapted to project outwardly through said lateral aperture; a carrying sleeve extending in the bore of said locking mandrel and connected with said locking mandrel; a locking .expander sleeve slidable on said carrying sleeve and having a lower end portion extending into the bore of the locking mandrel, said expander sleeve being movable downwardly relative to said locking mandrel on the carrying sleeve to engage and move said locking member outwardly of the lateral aperture; stop means on the locking mandrel limiting downward movement of the locking expander sleeve; and stop means on the carrying sleeve engageable with said locking expander sleeve for limiting upward movement of said expander sleeve to said carrying sleeve.

10. A well device including: an elongate tubular carrying sleevehaving an enlargement intermediate its ends providing upwardly and 4downwardly facing shoulders; la Atubular locking mandrel slidable on the carrying sleeve above Ythe enlargement; 4a p: cking sleeve slidable on the carrying sleeve below the enlargement; means connectingthe locking mandrel and the packing sleeve; said packing sleeve having means connected therewith providing an upwardly facing stop member engageable with the downwardly facing shoulder of the enlargement for limiting upward movement of the packing sleeve and locking mandrel on the carrying sleeve; said locking mandrel having a downwardly facing stop member engageable with the upwardly facing shoulder of the enlargement for limiting downward movement of the locking mandrel and packing sleeve on the carrying sleeve; said stop members being longitudinally spaced to permit limited longitudinal movement of the locking mandrel and packing sleeve on the carrying sleeve; said locking mandrel having a bore in its upper portion with a lateral aperture communicating therewith; locking means disposed in said bore and extending into said aperture and movable therein to project outwardly beyond the locking mandrel; a locking expander member slidable longitudinally on the carrying sleeve and in the locking mandrel and having means on its lower portion for moving the locking means outwardly through the lateral aperture when said expander member is moved downwardly in said mandrel on said carrying sleeve; said expander member having an upwardly facing stop shoulder thereon disposed in the locking mandrel; said locking mandrel having an internal downwardly facing stop shoulder above the aperture engageable by the stop shoulder of the expander member t'o limit upward movement of the expander member vwith respect to said locking mandrel; said expander member being in nonexpanding position when its stop shoulder is engaged with lthe stop shoulder of the locking mandrel; the engagement of the downwardly facing shoulder ofthe enlargement with the upwardly facing stop member of the packing sleeve and the engagement of the stop shoulder of the expander member with the stop shoulder of the locking mandrel above the aperture limiting upward movement of the expander member on the carrying sleeve.

l1. A well device including: an elongate carrier having an axial passage; said carrier having an outwardly extending external flange adjacent the upper vend thereof providing a downwardly facing stop shoulder which is adapted to engage an upwardly facing stop shoulder within the bore of a well string through which said carrier is lowered to limit the downward movement of said carrier, said carrier having a resilient expansible means on its lower end, said expansible means having an axial passage aligned with the axial bore of said carrier; and an elongate member movably extending through said axial passage and having an expander on its lower end disposed below said expansible means, said expander engaging and expanding said expansible means upon upward movement of said elongate member relative to said carrier, said expander having an aperture whereby well fluids may flow through said well device; said resilient expansible means having an inwardly extending upwardly facing surface in its axial passage, and said expander having `an outwardly extending downwardly facing surface on its exterior engageable with the upwardly facing surface of the expansible means for restraining said expander in expanding position.

12. A well device including: an elongate carrier having an upper non-expansible section and a lower section; said sections having aligned axial passages, said lower section having a lower outwardly expansible end portion, said upper section having an outwardly extending external flange adjacent the upper end thereof and integral therewith providing a downwardly facing stop shoulder which is adapted to engage an upwardly facing internal stop shoulder within the bore of' a well string through which said carrier may be lowered to limit downward movement of said carrier; and an elongate member extending through and slidable longitudinally in said axial passages and having a downwardly and outwardly extending annular shoulder adapted to enter into the lower end of said lower section to expand said lower end portion upon upward movement of said elongate member relative to said carrier; said carrier and said elongate member having co-engageable stop shoulders for limiting upward movement of said elongate member relative to said carrier; said elongate member and said carrier providing a ilow course whereby uids may flow through said device; said lower expansible endy portion having 'an inwardly extending upwardly fa'cing surface in its axial passage, and said outwardly extending shoulder of said elongate member having an outwardly extending downwardly 'facing surface on its underside engageable with the upwardly facing surface of the expansible end portion for restraining saidshoulder in expanding position.

13. A well device including: an elongate carrier having an axial passage, said carrier having an outwardly extending external flange adjacent the upper end thereof providing a downwardly facing stop shoulder which isl adapted to engage an upwardly facing stop shoulder of a well string through which said carrier may be lowered to limit the downward movement of said carrier; expansible means on said carrier providing an upwardly facing stop shoulder which is adapted to engage a downwardly facing vstop shoulder of the well string to prevent upward movement of said carrier in the well string when said expansible means is expanded; means movable longitudinally of said carrier for expanding said expansible means, said downwardly facing stop shoulder of said carrier being spaced from said upwardly spaced stop shoulder ofsaid carrier; and co-engageable means on said carrier and said movable means for limiting longitudinal movement of said movable means relative to said carrier; said carrier having a resilient expansible means on its lower end, said resilient expansible means having an axial passage concentric with the axial bore of said carrier; and an elongate member movably extending through said axial passage and having an expander on its lower end disposed below said resilient expansible means, said expander engaging and expanding said resilient expansible means upon upward movement of said elongate member relative to said carrier, said device providing a flow course whereby iluids may flow through said device. l l

14. A well device supportable on a flexible line 'for movement through a well string having longitudinally spaced internal opposed stop shoulders and including: an elongate carrier adapted to be releasably attached to said flexible line and having a longitudinal passage therethrough, said carrier having an outwardly extending external flange adjacent the upper end thereof providing a downwardly facing stop shoulder which is adapted to engage the upwardly facing Vstop shoulder of the well string through which said carrier is lowered to limit the downward movement of said carrier; expansible means on said carrier providing an upwardly facing stop shoulder which is adapted to engage the downwardly facing stop shoulder of the well string to prevent upward movement of said carrier in the well string vwhen said expansible means is expanded; means movable longitudinally of said carrier and engageable with said expansible means for expanding said expansible means, said downwardly facing stop shoulder of said carrier being longitudinally spaced from said upwardly facing stop shoulder of said carrier; co-engageable means on said carrier and said longitudinally movable means for limiting longitudinal movement of said longitudinally movable means relative to said carrier; and sealing means on said carrier for sealing between saidcarrier and said well string, saidvdevice having a flow' course therethrough wherebyuids may ow through said device.

l5. A well device including: a'n elongate tubular housing having an internal annular locking recess with a downwardly facing lock shoulder; a locking mandrel having an axial bore and a plurality of radially spaced apertures communicating with the axial bore; said mandrel having an upwardly facing seat in its bore; stop means on the locking mandrel for limiting downward movement of the locking mandrel in the housing; a carrying sleeve having a lower end telescoped in said axial bore and secured to said locking mandrel; a locking expander sleeve slidable on said carrying sleeve into said axial bore; a` plurality of dogs disposed in said locking mandrel and having bosses projecting into said apertures, said locking expander sleeve having a lower end adapted to contact said dogs and cause said bosses to project through said apertures whereby said dogs may engage the lock shoulder to prevent upward movement of said locking mandrel when said locking mandrel is disposed in said tubular housing, the seat in the bore of the locking mandrel limiting downward movement of said locking expander sleeve on said carrying sleeve; and stop means on said carrying sleeve engageable with said locking expander sleeve for limiting upward l 11 movement of the locking expander sleeve on the carrying sleeve.

16. A well device including: an elongate tubular housing having an internal annular locking recess with a downwardly facing beveled lock shoulder; a locking mandrel having an axial bore and a plurality of radially spaced lateral apertures communicating with said axial bore; said locking mandrel having an annular upwardly facing seat in its bore; stop means on the locking mandrel engageable with the housing for limiting downward movement of the locking mandrel in the housing; a carrying sleeve having a lower end telescoped in said axial bore and secured to said locking mandrel; a locking expander sleeve slidable on said carrying sleeve and having a lower end disposed in said axial bore; and a plurality of dogs disposed in said locking mandrel and having bosses projecting into said apertures, the lower end of said locking expander sleeve being slidable downwardly between said dogs and said carrying sleeve to cause said bosses to project through said apertures whereby said dogs may engage the lock shoulder when said locking mandrel is disposed in said tubular housing, said seat limiting downward movement of said locking expander sleeve on said carrying sleeve, said bosses having beveled surfaces adapted to contact said lock shoulder when expanded to lock the locking mandrel in the housing, said locking expander sleeve being movable upwardly with respect to the dogs and said locking mandrel to permit said lock shoulder to tend to cam said dogs inwardly to retracted position when the locking mandrel is moved upwardly.

17. A well device including: an elongate tubular housing having an internal annular locking recess with a downwardly facing beveled lock shoulder; a locking mandrel having an axial bore and a plurality of radially spaced lateral apertures communicating with said bore, said locking mandrel having an annular upwardly facing seat in its bore; stop means on the locking mandrel engageable with the housing for limiting downward movement of the locking mandrel in the housing; a carrying sleeve having a lower end telescoped in said axial bore and connected with said locking mandrel; a locking expander sleeve slidable on said carrying sleeve and having a lower end disposed in said axial bore; va plurality of dogs in said locking mandrel and having bosses projecting into said apertures, the lower end of said llocking expander sleeve being slidable downwardly between said dogs and said carrying sleeve to cause said bosses to project through said apertures whereby said bosses may engage the beveled lock shoulder when said locking mandrel is disposed in said tubular housing, the seat in the locking mandrel limiting downward movement of said locking expander sleeve on said carrying sleeve, said bosses having beveled surfaces adapted to contact said lock shoulder whereby upward movement of said locking mandrel will cause said lock shoulder to tend to cam said dogs inwardly to retracted position; said carrying sleeve having stop means at its upper end for limiting upward movement of said locking expander sleeve on said carrying sleeve.

18. A well apparatus including: a housing adapted to form a section of a pipe string and having an internal locking recess providing a lock shoulder; a well device positionable in said housing and including: a locking mandrel provided with an axial bore and having a plurality of radially spaced lateral apertures in said mandrel communicating with said axial bore; a carrying sleeve extending slidably into said axial bore; a plurality of dogs movably disposed in said mandrel; locking expander means slidable on the carrying sleeve and relative to said mandrel for moving said dogs outwardly through said apertures to engage said lock shoulder whereby said locking mandrel is locked to said housing against upward movement, said mandrel having outwardly extending stop means for engaging said housing and limiting downward movement of said locking mandrel into said housing; and stop means on said carrying sleeve for engaging and limiting upward movement of the locking expander means on said carrying sleeve.

19. A well tool for use with a landing nipple having an internal locking groove, said tool including: an elongate outer tubular member; an inner member having a portion disposed in said outer tubular member; a rst means on said outer tubular member engageable with said landing nipple for limiting downward movement of said outer tubular member through said nipple; a second means on said outer tubular member movable into expanded position into said locking groove to lock said outer tubular member against upward movement from said landing nipple; and a third means mounted for longitudinal movement on said inner member and in said outer tubular member for downward movement to a lower position for engaging and holding said second means in expanded position.

20. A well tool for use with a well string having an upwardly facing stop shoulder and a downwardly facing stop shoulder, said tool including: an outer tubular member; an inner member having a portion disposed in said outer tubular member; a iirst means on said tool engageable with said upwardly facing shoulder of said well string for limiting downward movement of said tool through said well string; a second means on said outer tubular member movable into position to engage said downwardly facing stop shoulder of said well string to lock said outer tubular member against upward movement from such position in saidwell string; and a third means mounted for longitudinal movement on said inner member and in said outer tubular member, engaging and holding said second means in locking position when in lowermost position on said inner member and movable upwardly on said inner member to an upper position permitting said second means to move out of locking position.

21. A well tool for use in a well string having an internal upwardly facing shoulder and an internal downwardly facing shoulder, said tool including: an outer tubular member, an inner tubular member having a portion disposed in said outer tubular member; means on said outer tubular member for engaging said upwardly facing shoulder to limit downward movement of said well tool in said well string; an expansible locking means on said outer tubular member; and an expander member movable longitudinally on said inner member and in said outer tubular member to engage and expand said expansible locking means into engagement with said downwardly facing shoulder to prevent upward movement of said tool after downward movement of said tool has been arrested by said upwardly facing shoulder.

22. A well tool for use in a well string having an internal upwardly facing shoulder and an internal downwardly facing shoulder, said tool including: an lnner member; means carried on said inner member andmovable laterally thereof into a position to engage said downwardly facing shoulder of said well string; means supporting said laterally movable means on said member; means on said member providing a downwardly facing shoulder engageable with said upwardly facing shoulder 0f said well string to limit downward movement of said tool through said well string; and a sleeve member movable longitudinally on said inner member, said sleeve member in its lowermost position on said inner member being engageable with said laterally movable means to hold said means in position to engage said downwardly facing shoulder of said well string to lock said tool against upward movement from such position in said well string, said sleeve being movable longitudinally upwardly relative to said inner member and out of engagement with said laterally movable means to an upper position on said inner member permitting said laterally movable means to move out of locking position.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Otis Oct. 16, 1951 

